Visual illusory productions with or without amodal completion

A new type of illusory contour is presented whose appearance is generated by the graphic representation of groups of human figures interacting in a coordinated manner with external reality. When numerous pictorial indicators of cause-effect relationships are provided, and appropriate techniques and sufficiently ambiguous observation conditions are used, hallucinatory objects congruent with expectations linked to the meaning of the configurations appear. There is thus a high-level semantic component that is active in the formation of visual illusory contours and is even capable of interacting with other known factors: brightness contrast, the number of elements, the degree of alignment of the elements, etc. This new type of illusory contour fits current definitions and can be experimentally modified. The variations in subjective clarity scores are presented for a study in which twenty subjects observed nineteen experimental figures, certain variables of which were manipulated. The issue is worthy of further experimental investigation.

[Clinical-instrumental evaluation of the effects of quinapril treatment in mild-to-moderate hypertension]

Eleven patients with uncomplicated mild-to-moderate hypertension (diastolic pressure 95-115 mmHg) were treated for four weeks with daily single quinapril doses of 20-40 mg. Already during the second week a significant reduction in blood pressure was observed without increase of heart rate; 27.3% of patients responded to the lower dose (diastolic blood pressure [90 mmHg], and 54.6% responded to the higher dose. Drug treatment led to reduced pressure increase in response to cold stimulation without influencing the adrenergic response both in basal conditions and after cold pressor test. The drug brought about peripheral vasodilatation as shown by increased perfusion index during Doppler ultrasound examination, and improved arterial reactivity with increased perfusion index and reduced recovery time after ischemia. The reduction of angiotensin and aldosterone plasma levels during treatment was not correlated to diminished blood pressure values, indicating that the antihypertensive effect can occur via pathways different from ACE inhibition. Tolerance was excellent as shown both by clinical and laboratory evidence.